“What I know is that I’m having a much-needed girls' night. And I know you have a football game. State championships in fact, that I also know you can’t miss. That’s what I know.”
Kasey and I both snicker.
Roman opens his mouth to argue and then thinks better of it before he curses under his breath and then steals Luis from her. “I thought you both hated Sarah.”
“We do,” Kasey chimes in. “But that doesn’t mean I’ll turn down free booze and a night out.”
His lips mash together and Allie smirks in triumph as Roman starts making baby noises and faces at Luis. It’s weird how fast his mood shifts.
“Can I keep him next period?” she asks. “I want some nephew time.” I love that she considers him family already. That they all do.
“Sure. But don’t you have class?”
She nods, holding a finger out to Luis, who tries to bite it. He’s teething and everything appears edible, or at least chewable these days.
“Just gym so we’ll roll a ball around or something. No one will care.”
“Why not?”
The bell rings and we all push up from our seats. “See you in fourth,” she calls, claiming my diaper bag as she and Roman head toward the exit.
I’m about to follow when Emilio reaches out and captures my arm. “A party?” he asks, his voice low. “Is that a good idea?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
He tugs me into falling into step beside him and we spill into the crowded hallway. “Because the last time you went to a party you—“
“Had a one-night stand? Got pregnant?” I grin. “Worried it’ll happen again?”
He drags me into an empty classroom and closes the door behind us before spinning around and pressing me up against the wall. My breath hitches as he trails his nose along my jaw line and takes a deep breath. “It better not happen again, unless I’m the one who puts another baby in this oven.” He presses a hand against my stomach. My eyes meet his hooded gaze in question.
“Already planning on knocking me up, again?” I joke, but he doesn’t smile.
“What if I was?”
My brows furrow. “You’re kidding right?”
Silence.
“Emilio…”
“I wasn’t there the first time. I missed all of that. Maybe I want to see what it’s like.” He shrugs like it’s no big deal, but there’s an emotion in his eyes I don’t recognize.
“We’re not even—“
“Yeah. We are.” He presses himself against me, his lips hovering a hairsbreadth over mine. “We’re a thing. You can tell yourself whatever you need to but this, you and me, it’s not nothing. This is a thing. And it’s exclusive.”
I shiver in response. “Emilio Chavez is capable of monogamy? Who could have known?” I only half joke, because despite his words, I have my doubts. Especially with the way he’s been acting these past few days.
“You know now,” he says, kissing me, his lips ghosting across my own in a way that has me chasing to follow. “And you’re the only one who matters.” He cups the side of my face and tilts toward me until his lips are pressed against mine. This time, the kiss lingers for a moment and my cheeks heat when I feel the hard press of him against me.
The bell rings, jerking me out of the moment and we break away from one another, but just barely. “We should get to class,” I mumble, but make no move to leave.
“We should,” he agrees, but Emilio doesn’t move either.
My chest rises and falls as my heart pounds in my chest. There’s a savage glint in his eyes and a wicked curl to his lips. “Or…”
“Or?” My voice is breathless.
